2025 was a year of large-scale initiatives for the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia (VWFA), while 2026 will focus on their implementation.

In an interview with GastroVino, Executive Director of the Foundation, Zaruhi Muradyan, spoke about the first-ever international wine competition to be held in Armenia - the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, and plans for the development of the industry.

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Armenia

One of the most significant achievements of this year is that for the first time in history, Armenia will host the world’s largest wine competition, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, in 2026. This milestone is the result of nearly three years of consistent work, during which the foundation worked closely with the organizers of the competition.

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The competition will bring around 400 international experts from 65 countries to Armenia, including journalists, buyers, suppliers, sommeliers, and representatives of educational institutions. Positioning Armenia as a wine-producing country within educational programs worldwide is especially important, as it creates opportunities to showcase Armenian grape varieties, terroir, and the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage on international platforms.

The event also has a tourism and business component. Following the competition, international journalists will spend five days exploring Armenia, which will contribute to the recognition of the country as an attractive tourist destination. This, in turn, will have a positive impact on the development of exports, wine tourism and international cooperation.

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Zaruhi Muradyan | Image by: Mediamax

When selecting a country to host the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, key criteria included wine quality, cultural values, infrastructure, and organizational capacity. Armenia met all of those requirements. Georgia, Moldova, and Romania were also among the candidate countries bidding to host the competition. This will be the first time such a large-scale international wine event is held in the region.

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The main event is scheduled for May 19-23, 2026. We asked our partners to add an extra day to the four-day competition, so that participants can visit Vayots Dzor and explore the Areni Cave as well as the region’s terroir and wineries.

The vineyard registry as a management tool for the industry

Another key and long-term project is the creation of a vineyard registry, a project the VWFA has been working on for several years. It is fundamental to the development of the sector, as any successful policy must be based on accurate data.

The registry will include passport data of all vineyards on a digital platform, including vineyard location, ownership information, grape varieties, and cultivation purposes. This will allow tracking the whole production process, from growing grapes to selling wine.

Over the past two years, as part of the project, vineyards have been mapped with drones, alphanumeric data collected, and on-site visits to farmers carried out. The program is now in its final stage, the system is nearly complete, and the final version is expected to be launched in the near future.

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Zaruhi Muradyan | Image by: Mediamax

A pilot process for grape procurement through the registry is planned for 2026. All grape producers and harvesters must be registered on the platform, which will provide a clear picture of the quantities and purposes of processed grapes.

The registry will enable the government to develop more targeted support programs, help investors make sound investment decisions, and allow regulators to ensure full traceability. It will play an important role in the development of both wine and brandy production.

VWFA’s 10th anniversary and summary of achievements

2026 is also symbolic as it marks the 10th anniversary of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia.

Significant progress has been made over the past decade: wine production and export volumes have nearly doubled, the number of winemaking companies has grown, and per capita wine consumption has increased. While there were around 25 winemaking companies in Armenia in 2018, today that number stands at approximately 180.

Despite numerous challenges - war, the pandemic, geopolitical instability, all of which directly affected consumption and production, the sector has continued to develop. Today, Armenian wine is more attractive and in demand in international markets. While the foundation previously sought partnerships, offers from abroad have become more frequent today. Thanks to collective effort and cooperation within the industry, Armenia is steadily strengthening its position as a wine-producing country.

Ani Khchoyan
Photos by David Ghahramanyan